Blades Jurors Resume Today

Panel Seeks More Information On Gun That Killed Cousin

Seattle Seahawks star Brian Blades on Thursday waited four hours in a courtroom as a six-member jury began deciding his fate.

That wait continues today.

The jurors in Blades' manslaughter trial heard attorneys on both sides of the case make their final arguments, then began deliberating at 12:10 p.m. Four hours later, Broward Circuit Judge Susan Lebow granted their request to go home for the day.

They will continue deliberating this morning at 8:30.

Before leaving the courthouse the jury made three requests:

-- For a copy of Brian Blades' 911 tape and the ammunition from his gun.

-- To see the .380-caliber semiautomatic pistol itself - which they weren't allowed to have while they had the bullets - and its manual.

-- To see photos of the area at Brian Blades' home in suburban Plantation where the shooting took place.

Brian Blades is accused of shooting his cousin, Charles Blades, 34, as the two men fought for control of a pistol early July 5. The gun fired, striking Charles Blades in the chin. He died in the second-floor office of Brian Blades' condo.

The defense says the death was accidental; the state says Blades is guilty because he was negligent.

The defense called no witnesses but prosecution witnesses testified that Brian Blades, 30, tried to stop his brother, Bennie Blades, 29, from arguing with an ex-girlfriend outside Bennie Blades' nearby condo.

When Bennie Blades, a safety with the Detroit Lions, pushed him, Brian Blades got upset and went to his own home, saying he was going to ``Get his s---.''

Charles Blades followed, apparently hoping to play peacemaker. The gun fired as the two struggled.

The men and friends had been celebrating July Fourth. An autopsy said Charles Blades had a blood-alcohol level of .25 percent, more than three times the state limit to drive a car. Police did not test Brian Blades for alcohol, but one witness said he seemed ``kind of tipsy.''

Four alternate jurors released when the regular panel began deliberations said they were evenly split over a verdict.

`There had to be a reason for Charles to leave the limo and run after Brian Blades,'' alternate Stephen Brewer said. ``I think Charles was afraid Brian was going to get his gun and use it. I felt the state proved their case. You don't wave a gun around or pull it out if you're not going to use it.''

Alternate Doreen Hixon had a different perspective: ``I have doubts. There was no proof who got out the gun and why. This was a very, very tragic accident, but I just couldn't figure out who picked up the gun first.''

The prosecution and defense spent Thursday morning summing up their cases to the jurors.

Prosecutor Peter Magrino said: ``Charles Blades was killed because [Brian Blades) consumed alcoholic beverages, got upset, left his brother's house to go 237 feet to his house, got his gun and pulled that hammer back.

``Folks, that is a course of conduct that [Brian Blades) knew or should have known could result in death or great bodily harm. What happened to Charles Blades happened because he was trying to do an honorable thing. But we had alcohol and anger and ended up with a senseless killing,'' Magrino said.

Defense attorney Fred Haddad disagreed and criticized the Plantation Police Department for its detective work, including failure to get fingerprints off the death weapon.